jigokulogs | March 2022 Mini Event

March 2022 Mini Event

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The Night Parade is fast-approaching and each faction will be busy with their own preparations.

1. SHUTEN CLAN

The Celestial Phoenix Casino, a fairly popular casino in the Shuten territory, is overdue on its protection money. This money is sorely needed for parade preparations. Unfortunately, the casino has decided it doesn't need to pay up because they've hired some new unaffiliated muscle. Neither the manager nor their new muscle are the type to listen to reason, so be prepared to exert some intimidation and force to convince these new bodyguards to take their business elsewhere.

The brute squad working for the Celestial Phoenix seems to be made up of several different youkai. Some of them are more human looking than others, but you'll notice no Oni. Even independent Oni wouldn't dare turn against the Shuten Clan. Even lacking in Oni, these thugs are armed to the teeth, swinging several deadly weapons and even a few firearms. This could get rough, so be prepared for the worst. Take the gangsters protecting the Celestial Phoenix out or convince them it’s not worth it.

Once inside, you'll discover that the owner, in a panic, has locked himself inside the casino's value with the protection money owed. This might take some doing to get open...

2. SUTOKU ALLIANCE

The Kappa want to be left alone and the Daitengu has asked Sutoku Alliance members to assure their wishes are respected. Members are tasked with convincing people to stay away from the Kappa's riverside facilities by whatever means necessary. Of course, you may want to take a look for yourself to see what they’re being so secretive about. That’s not recommended, if you don’t want to get into trouble.

It’s not just strangers who are nosy, though. Retinues from both the Shuten and Tamamo clans are making an appearance and asking why the inspections are taking so long. Why are the Kappa dragging their feet? The Alliance prefers to avoid direct violence, so it's up to you to talk to these clan captains in a way that convinces them to leave the Kappa alone.

If you're curious enough to dive deeper into the Kappa's business, however, even your Alliance membership isn't going to keep you safe. The Kappa themselves seem to disappear from sight the further into the sewers you go, as if invisible. Preventing yourself from being spotted by a security camera or a patrolling Kappa is almost impossible. Cover your faces, stick to the shadows, and you might just notice that... they’re building something down there.

Something for the Parade? Who knows? But it’s definitely not decorations or a float...

3. DEPARTMENT OF THE ENMA

The parade route for the Night Parade needs to be "cleaned up". The Department is tasked with getting the low level street gangs and squatters to clear out. The homeless population will resist and may not be so easily persuaded to give up their spots. Your best bet is to offer them food, booze, or shelter for the night. The street gangs will assuredly fight back. Use your strength or your wits to get the job done.

The gangs will not typically be that tough, most don’t want to step up to the Department's goon squad too heavily lest they wind up in a cell for the rest of their lives. Still, some might be hopped up on encouraging substances and try to escalate. Don’t worry, though. You have the authority of the Enma on your side! Don’t think they will get away with waving a weapon in your face.

The homeless, though, lack strength or weapons. They are more fueled by desperation to keep their spots. Winter hasn't been kind to them, after all, and they don’t have much respect for the Enma's authority. Their belligerent behavior is loud, and often violent despite their absence of means to properly defend themselves. At worst, they’ll probably try to use biological warfare. Don’t ask what's in those bottles...

4. TAMAMO CLAN

Parade costumes need to be designed, crafted, modeled, and then likely mended knowing the rough and tumble yokai. The textile shops and tailors of the area need Tamamo Clan members to help them out. Costumes vary from extremely ornate to extremely sexy. These costumes need to merge form and function, for the Tamamo clan parade marchers that means they need to be able to sell their specific wares while wearing them. (wink wonk)

None of the costumes are floor ready and the shop bosses urge you that these cannot be seen by the public until they are ready. This won’t stop some peeping toms and tammies from trying to scope out the goods. Most of the voyeurs are spying for perverted reasons, but some are from shops outside of Tamamo’s influence trying to copy the designs for themselves. Either way, Tamamo Clan members aren't expected to be just pretty faces. So rough’em up.

5. TASTE TEST (ALL FACTIONS)

For those less interested in their faction's work, the restaurants in the Tamamo territory also need help finalizing their menu offerings for the Night Parade. Taste testers and creative cooks wanted! These aren’t just any dishes though and may have some interesting effects. One may be so spicy that everything burns, your face turns red, and you need to cool yourself off. Or maybe your dish is so good that you need to take a nap – it doesn't matter where you are, you'll just fall asleep right on the spot. Another possibility is a dish that gives you unstoppable energy – literally. It will make you want to get up and go and never stop moving. If you stop moving, it may cause a bigger problem.

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Neither did I. [Kamui, like Hazel, had ducked out early-- at his earliest opportunity, even. Crowds have never been his forte, and he'd burned out his tolerance before he'd even got to the venue. The rowdy Shuten-only event had been more than enough.] But it was difficult not to notice.

[As Hazel continues to speak, he's not listening to her words as much as he's listening to the tone of her voice. There it is: that woman from the network. He furrows his brow.]

'Stitches'... that's you, right? I'm Uehara. We spoke the other day, I believe.

[A beat. He's not working formally with the Heinous Crimes Unit right now, he can swing a first name.]

But you can call me Kamui if you like.

[ok, so, it's kind of embarrassing but Hazel's first instinct on being 'recognized', even by someone she'd entertained a friendly conversation with, is to run. her shoulders even stiffen up as if they're preparing to vault over some booth and fucking tactical roll out of sight in the next three seconds. thankfully her brain kicks back into gear juuust before any parkour skills are dubiously put on display and her postures relaxes again in short order.

it's generally not a good thing when people know her back home, and old habits are proving hard to break. she's going to half-chuckle and keep talking as if that weird little moment never happened, thank you.]

Well, guess you know where I got the name from now.

[because they're all over her body, get it? she's so funny. for a moment she simply stands there, debating whether or not to extend the pleasantries a little further before finally holding out her hand for a shake.]

Nice to meet you offline, Kamui. If the nickname's a little too cutesy for you you can always just call me Hazel. I'm not picky.

[He's observant, so he definitely spots her reaction, even if he doesn't do anything about it. Instead, he files that information away in his mind with the rest of his first impressions. She hadn't had faith her fellow lost souls wouldn't lie on the network; she'd totally tensed up when identified, yet without a single threat, in a crowd.

(Or... well. Are people actually picking up on his criminal power, here? Has he been scaring people without realizing it?)

Either way: for whatever reason, Hazel's loath to trust. At least she's recovered enough for a handshake, which Kamui accepts with a firm and even grip.]

I kind of like Stitches, actually. [He's not kidding, he loves nicknames...] It's nice to meet you offline, too.

Unfortunately, I'm not any closer to figuring anything out about the city than I was then.

[her own hold is surprisingly steady for someone of such a delicate stature and abstractly nervous disposition. there's either a steely core hiding beneath her slight appearance or Hazel's read more than a few Top Ten Interview Tricks articles before arriving here. who can say?

she keeps his hand in hers for just a moment longer than necessary after the shake is completed, mostly as collateral while she determines whether Kamui's being serious about preferring her moniker. it really does seem to be legitimate, which...kind of amuses her, honestly, and it's with a small smile that she releases him. she won't say it, but she likes her alias too. it's adorable.]

Not even a little bit? You've had a whole, what, week and a half since you made that post?

[it's a joke this time, and she flaps her hand lightly to ensure it lands.]

This parade shit's not too bad for getting a pulse check on everyone's priorities, honestly. It's basically a dick waving contest for the factions, right? Kind of interesting to see what they think's the most important to show off.

[They're both progressing to the next interview, great job kids.

As Hazel releases his hand, he answers her joke with a sheepish expression of his own:] You'd think I'd only need a couple days to free several dozen souls from Hell.

[He sighs, tucking his hands into his pockets and watching the crowd go by: talking and laughing, snacking on what he hopes are untainted Tamamo samples. It's not the wait that bothers him-- Kamui has no problem being patient-- so much as it is the uncertainty. But like everything else that's ever happened to him, all he can do is put in the work as best as he can in order to move onto whatever comes next.]

Pretty much. Preparing for it alone has been a learning experience. I've never really been a parade, or a festival, person, so...I guess you could say I'm learning more on two fronts.

Yeah? I used to really be into shit like this.

[parades, school dances, fundraising carnivals...they were the perfect blend of harmless fun and an opportunity to make use of her creative proclivities. she had a lot of pretty great memories from both prep and enjoying the actual events with her friends, some of which briefly danced through the front of her mind as her gaze idly followed Kamui's.

it was different now, of course. even if they weren't in hell she'd still be the thing she was today. monsters didn't belong at celebrations outside of a haunted house.]

What's getting you fucked up the most?

[at least for the time being, she refuses to wallow in her own self-pity. Hazel's head tilts lightly as her eyes shift over to the man next to her, eyebrows raised mischievously. a normal person would ask about his favorite part of this new experience, but of course she wants to know about his struggles. maybe he's fallen off a float or something equally hilarious!]

Well. [That's an weird question. It's a good one, though-- keeps things interesting. He's reminded, warmly, of a friend who liked to mix things up too.]

I'll admit to having trouble relaxing, and I'm not big on crowds, either. So, food aside, I just feel... sort of awkward, doing festival things.

[His own memories of childhood are much, much more bleak. Though he'd been obligated to attend a few festivals in school, the anxiety around wide spaces and crushes of people had been much sharper then-- and he's always been as much of a slightly retiring oddball as he is now. So many of the activities that're being tested and worked on today are things he's never done, much less done and enjoyed-- but now he's an adult, far too old, in his own mind, to be catching a festival goldfish around in a bag. Even if he wants to go have fun, he still feels hesitant about it all. Maybe a bit childish for it, too.]

Does 'used to' mean you don't care for it anymore?

Guessing 'just get fucking wasted' isn't an option for you, huh?

[she's teasing, arms that had been folded with mock attentiveness behind her back in wait of his answer now untangling themselves to gesticulate appropriately.]

Listen, I'm not gonna try and tell you what to do with your fucking life or anything, but like - I got mooned yesterday by a demon that literally had an eyeball in its asshole. If there's anywhere that nobody's gonna give a shit about you being outside the age bracket for knocking over milk bottles it's here.

[shirime are...certainly something, aren't they? but Hazel thinks it's kind of comforting in a weird way; with shitshows like that running around there really isn't any reason to feel shy about doing what you want to. it might be hell, but in many ways she found this place far freer than earth ever had been.

...that she forgets to answer Kamui's question is completely incidental. really!]

I'll drink, but 'wasted' isn't happening. Sorry.

[Kamui's a stick in the mud. Being drunk to the totally out of control level sounds intimidating at best, slightly terrifying at worst.

And speaking of terrifying--]

I-- sorry, a what? [Kamui actually screws up his face in bewilderment at that one: it's bizarre enough that he, too, totally forgets he asked Hazel a question. Maybe the evil household object subset of yokai aren't actually the strangest thing here.]

How does that even work? [Wait. No. Gross. He shakes his head as if to clear the thought away.] I changed my mind, don't answer that question.

[as comforting as Hazel might find the presence of old Ass Eyes, the grimace that she gives her companion in the face of his own horror is nothing but commiseration. he might represent a kind of philosophical freedom from the expectations of society, but she really hadn't needed to see him drop his pants like that.]

Pretty sure he's still hanging around those fucking toilets if you wanna go ask him yourself. You know, if you ever decide you fucking hate yourself and need to know what it's like to take a shit during a colonoscopy or something.

[this is why they have people cleanse the night before, right? right???]

...point is, no fucking way you're topping shit like that.

[An uncomfortable beat...] I mean, I think some people might still be into that.

[Hazel you are terrible and this is a terrible conversation.]

As much as I enjoy talking about the sex life of shirime, let's talk about something else. Do you want some taiyaki? [MIRACULOUSLY, he hasn't lost his appetite: the smell of the batter cooking's a lot like waffles, and it's wafting over to them from the nearby stall.]

I'll buy you one. As thanks for the tip.

[there is about seven lifetimes' worth of judgement in the stare that Hazel gives him for making her think about pornographic colonoscopies. she hopes all your past brain-lives feel this, Kamui.

somehow though the offer of food still manages to pique her interest. it shouldn't, considering she still has to cut open her stomach stitches and remove everything she consumes despite being able to taste it here - considering that she's already done that three times today it definitely shouldn't. and yet...]

Yeah, if you're offering. Not gonna turn down free shit anytime soon.

[did she even pause to consider this? no. what the fuck, Hazel.]

There a topping limit on this?

[Somewhere back in 1970-something, some guy in Micronesia is getting a very, very bad vibe out of nowhere...

But, okay: taiyaki. As they approach the booth, that aroma's hitting them both at full force now-- if Kamui weren't already in getting one for himself, he'd have been won over immediately.]

Whatever you can fill inside it, I suppose.

[The fox woman behind the stall closes the fish-shaped iron on a row of red bean-stuffed taiyaki.]

Which probably isn't much, so choose wisely.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

March 2022 Mini Event

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aaa this got lost sorry

dw trying to keep us apart, sad

star-crossed notif-cursed cr lmao

this seems correct on an ic level tbh

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